Supply chain management

About: Supply chain management is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 39055 publications have been published within this topic receiving 1082949 citations. The topic is also known as: SCM.

Performance Metrics in Supply Chain Management

Abstract: This survey paper starts with a critical analysis of various performance metrics for supply chain management (SCM), used by a specific manufacturing company. Then it summarizes how economic theory treats multiple performance metrics. Actually, the paper proposes to deal with multiple metrics in SCM via the balanced scorecard — which measures customers, internal processes, innovations, and finance. To forecast how the values of these metrics will change — once a supply chain is redesigned — simulation may be used. This paper distinguishes four simulation types for SCM: (i) spreadsheet simulation, (ii) system dynamics, (iii) discrete-event simulation, and (iv) business games. These simulation types may explain the bullwhip effect, predict fill rate values, and educate and train users. Validation of simulation models requires sensitivity analysis; a statistical methodology is proposed. The paper concludes with suggestions for a possible research agenda in SCM. A list with 50 references for further study is included.

A complex network approach to supply chain network theory

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to advance supply chain network theory by applying theoretical and empirical developments in complex network literature to the context of supply chains as complex adaptive systems. The authors synthesize these advancements to gain an understanding of the network properties underlying efficient supply chains. To develop a suitable theory of supply chain networks, the authors look to mirror the properties of complex network models with real‐world supply chains.Design/methodology/approach – The authors review complex network literature drawn from multiple disciplines in top scientific journals. From this interdisciplinary review a series of propositions are developed around supply chain complexity and adaptive phenomena.Findings – This paper proposes that the structure of efficient supply chains follows a “scale‐free” network. This proposal emerges from arguments that the key properties of efficient supply chains are a short characteristic path length, a high clustering...

Supply chain integration and performance: a review of the evidence

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse papers studying the link between supply chain integration (SCI) and performance, and to discuss reported empirical evidence relating to this fundamental question for logistics and supply chain management.Design/methodology/approach – A systematic analysis of 38 papers published in nine important journals in logistics, supply chain and operations management during the period 2000‐2006 is offered. Using a multidimensional framework to sort and classify selected papers, structured results are provided for the purpose of contributing to discussion of the topic.Findings – More SCI does not always improve performance. Definitions and measures of SCI and performance are diverse to the extent that a conclusion such as “the more (SCI) the better (the performance) cannot be drawn”. On the contrary more empirical research, with use of clear definitions and good measures, are needed. The conclusions drawn from the analytical literature review provide a basis from whic...

Mitigating Supply Risk: Dual Sourcing or Process Improvement?

Abstract: Surveys suggest that supply chain risk is a growing issue for executives and that supplier reliability is of particular concern. A common mitigation strategy is for the buying firm to expend effort improving the reliability of its supply base. We explore a model in which a firm can source from multiple suppliers and/or exert effort to improve supplier reliability. For both random capacity and random yield types of supply uncertainty, we propose a model of process improvement in which improvement efforts (if successful) increase supplier reliability in the sense that the delivered quantity (for any given order quantity) is stochastically larger after improvement. We characterize the optimal procurement quantities and improvement efforts and generate managerial insights. For random capacity, improvement is increasingly favored over dual sourcing as the supplier cost heterogeneity increases, but dual sourcing is favored over improvement if the supplier reliability heterogeneity is high. In the random yield model, increasing cost heterogeneity can reduce the attractiveness of improvement, and improvement can be favored over dual sourcing if the reliability heterogeneity is high. A combined strategy (improvement and dual sourcing) can provide significant value if suppliers are very unreliable and/or capacity is low relative to demand.

Logistics Management and Strategy

Abstract: PART I: INTRODUCTION. 1. Logistics and The Supply Chain. 2. Serving the Customer. 3. Value and Logistics Costs. PART II: LEVERAGING LOGISTICS OPERATIONS. 4. Managing Logistics Internationally. 5. Managing the Lead -Time Frontier. 6. Just-In-Time and Lean Thinking. 7. The Agile Supply Chain. PART III: SUPPLIER INTERFACES. 8. Managing the Supply Chain. 9. Partnerships in The Supply Chain. PART IV: CHANGING THE FUTURE. 10. Logistics Future Challenge.